The ancient farm, Calais/Callis Grange, which once belonged to the monks of St. Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury, has been identified in Broadstairs and is currently in use as a residential care home. It is thought that a Medieval underground chapel is still in existance under the house (kitchen area).

This identification is the result of local research, using an estate map of Callis Grange lands thought to be of 17th century date from Canterbury Cathedral Archive, early OS maps, Kelly’s Directories for Broadstairs, a photograph of the surviving carved overmantle inside, the headed notepaper of ‘Wychdene’ and an old drawing of Callis Grange. Surviving features appear to include wainscoting around one of the inner rooms of ‘Wychdene’, and a carved wooden overmantle – probably dating to the re-ordering of the house when owned by George and Elizabeth Lovejoy (1630s). Local knowledge exists suggesting the survival of an old chapel in the basement area – the door to the chapel has been boarded over and leads from the kitchen area. Similar underground chapels exist in Thanet at St Nicholas Court and at the site of Nash Court.

Jill Hogben, 2017, Emails and images regarding Callis Grange/Wychdene Residential Care Home (Verbal communication). SKE32449.